Stretching device.



E. 0. FOULK.

STRBTCHING DEVICE,

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 26, 1914. 1,108,732. Patented Aug. 25, 1914.

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E. O. FOULK. STRETGHING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED 33.26, 1914.

Patented Aug125, 1914.

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WITNESSES ZLUJ-UM THE NORRIS PETE RS CO., PHOTO-LITHQ. WASHINGTON. D-CI' E. 0. FOULK. STRETGHING DEVICE.

I APPLIQATION FILED FEB.26, 1914. 1 ,1 08,732. Patented Aug. 25, 1914* 3SHEETSSHBET 3.

WITNESSES l/VVE/VTOR 4 alfl? E E EzZwa/ d 01 0 ATTORNEYS I THE NORRISPETERS CO.. PHOTO-LITHQ. WASHINGTON, D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT onnicn EDWARD OSCAR E'OULK, 0F PIONEER, LOUISIANA.

STRET'CHING DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD O. FOULK, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of Pioneer, in the parishof West Carroll and State of Louisiana, have invented a new and ImprovedStretching Device, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

My invention relates a to an improved stretching means more particularlyadapted for embodiment in a belt stretcher, and also useful forembodiment in a wire stretcher.

With belt stretchers of the ordinary form, the securing of the device toa belt is attended with much inconvenience and considerable expenditureof time, and ordinarily two workmen are necessary for the securing andoperation of the stretcher. Moreover, the usual form of stretcher isslow in operation, and is liable to slip when under strain.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved device which, whenembodied in a belt stretcher, may be quickly and conveniently applied toa belt by one man, and may be rapidly and conveniently operated toeffect the desired stretching of the belt with a minimum loss of time.

The invention also has for its object to provide a stretching meanspossessing features that may advantageously be embodied in a simple formof wire stretcher.

The invention has also for its object to provide a stretching deviceimproved in various particulars whereby to promote, in addition toefliciency in operation, economy of manufacture, convenience ineffecting the assemblage of the parts, and simplicity of adjustment andcontrol.

The invention resides in the various distinctive features characterizingthe invention, and in the novel elements entering into the structuralembodiment thereof.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a belt stretcher embodying myinvention; Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 isa longitudinal vertical section on the line 8 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. e is adetail transverse vertical section on the line H of Fig. 1; Fig. 5' is atransverse vertical Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 26,1914. Serial No. 821,282.

Patented Aug. 25, 1914;.

section on the line 55 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 1s a sectional detail on theline 66 of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a perspective View of one of the clampelements included in the belt stretcher Figs. 8 and 9are detaillongitudinal vertical sections showing the gripping dogs in differentpositions on the slide bar or pull bar; Fig. 10 is a side elevation of awire stretcher constructed in accordance with my invention, showing thesame in use; and Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the wire stretchershown in Fig. 10, drawn to a larger scale.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to 7, disclosing the invention asembodied in a belt stretcher, and to Figs. 8 and 9 showing details ofthe gripping dogs as embodied both in the belt stretcher and the wirestretcher or fence stretcher, the device comprises generally, tworelatively movable structures provided with means for securing them tothe belt ends so that there may be a relative movement of the onestructure toward or from the other so as to draw the ends of the belttogether. The one structure in the belt stretcher comprises a securingmeans in the form of a clamp designated generally by the numeral 10, andslide bars or pull bars 11 on which the cooperating structure has guidedsliding movement. The bars 11 are pivotally secured to the clamp 10 inorder that the clamp may assume different angular positions relativelyto the bars in accommodating the stretcher to the relative positions ofthe belt ends. Thus the bars at one end are received between lugs 12 onthe clamp 10, the connection being completed by bolts 13 and nuts 14.

The cooperating structure comprises a clamp designated generally by thenumeral 15, having openings 16 extending there- ,through, which receivethe ends of the bars "11, the structure including also alternately andreversely operating gripping dogs 17 18, slidable on the bars 11, ashereinafter more fully described, each pair of said dogs beingoperatively connected.with a lever 19.

at opposite sides of its fulcrum 20.

In the form shown, the clamps 10 and 15 are similar in essentials. Thusthe clamp 10 comprises a base 21, rising from which at each end is apair of lugs 22, the lugs of each pair being spaced apart and receivingbetween them a movable block or gripping ]21W 23, which is looselyreceived at its end between the respective pairs of lugs 22.Corresponding elements 21, 22 23, are present in clamp 15, slightlymodified, the base 21 and block 23 being rabbeted at the ends toaccommodate the bars 11, and the lugs 22" being formed with the openings16 for said bars. I

In order to exert pressure on the gripping blocks or jaws 23, 23 of eachclamp, so as to cause the belt ends a (Fig. 2) to be firmlyclampedbetween the said jaws and the bases 21, 21 lever handles2-1 areemployed, pivoted by pins 25 or equivalent means to the lugs 22, 22,said leversbeing formed with cam heads or eccentrics 26 adapted to exertpressure on the jaws or blocks 23. In connection with the jaws and thecam heads 26, one or more wedges 27 may be received between said jawsand the cam heads when made necessary by the thickness of the belt.

4 loop through which the bar 11 passes, these yokes being designatedrespectively by the numerals 28, 29. The-dog 17 connects with theadjacent lever 19 by a link or connecting rod 30, which is pivoted tosaid lever at 3 and the dog 18 is connected with the lever by a link orconnecting rod 32 pivoted to thelever as at these links being disposedat opposite sides of the fulcrum ot the lever. Similarly the said linksare both piv otally connected withthe dogs17, 18, at opposite sides ofthe adjacent bar 11, that is to say, above and below said bar, as at 34,

5, respectively.

By the described arrangement of the lever and dogs, the said dogs willbe alternately advanced along a bar 11 by a movement of the actuatinglever 19, forward movement of the lever in the direction of the clamp 10advancing the dog 18 along the adjacent bar 11, and a reverse movementof the lever serving to advance the dog 17. As one dog is advanced. theother will exert a gripping action on the bar 11, because each dog iscaused to have a parallel movement on the bar in one movement of thelever, and is tilted to effect a gripping action in the oppositemovement of the lever. llhe parallel movement of a dog is insured byforming on the links 30 and 32, shoulders 36, 37, said shoulders beingadjacent to the pivots 34, 35, and acting as stops so that a forwardmovement of either link will square the yoke 28 or 29 of the advancingdog with its actuating link 30 or 32. ()n the other hand, when a link30, for instance, is drawn rearwardly, the dog 17 carried thereby willbe tilted. The gripping action of the dogs will be better understoodfrom Fig. 9, in which the dog 17 is indicated as square or perpendicularwith its actuating link 31, the shoulder or stop 36 of said linkengaging the said dog. It will be clear that a forward movement of thelink 31 will press the shoulder against the dog 17 and shift the saiddog longitudinally with the yoke 28 thereofparallel with the bar 11. Inthe same figure the link 32 and the dog 18 carried thereby are indicatedin the positions they will assume when the said link is movedrearwardly, the result being that the yoke 29 will be tilted. In thetilted position and rearward movement of the dog 18, the upper rearangle 10 of the gripping yoke 29 and thediagonally oppositeangle 11 atthe forward lower side of said yoke, will grip the bar 11, so that therearward movement of the link 32 and dog 18 will exert a pulling actionon thebar 11, and will thus move the one clamp 10 carried thereby in thedirection of the opposite clamp 15.

It will be obvious that the reverse move ment ofthe links 31, 32, willcause a parallel movement of the dog 18 and a gripping movement of thedog 17, so that the said dog 17 will hold the bar 11 in the position towhich it has been pulled by the dog 18, until the said dog 18 is againadvanced toward the dog 17 and reversed to give a pulling action. 7 r iIt is desirable for the convenient and rapid adjustment and operation ofthe stretching device, that provision be made for bringing the two dogsof each pair into proper parallel position relatively to the adjacentpull bar 11, to permit the dogs to be slid in unison along the barwithout either gripping. To the desired end each dog-is formed with afinger 12, d3, which are curved or inclined in the direction of. theadjacent actuating lever 19. By reason of the said fingers, the dogswill engage each other when brought together as indicated in Fig. 8, andthe dogs may then be freely moved in unison along the bar 11 foradjusting thedogs in any particular position along the length of thesaid bar.

Each bar 11 has a removable pin45 inserted therein, which is simplyutilized to prevent complete separation of the 'relatively movablestructures. The removal of the pins will permit the bars 11 to beentirely disconnected from the clamp 15 and the dogs 17,18.v i

In Figs. 10 and 11 a single pull bar or slide bar is employedinconnectio-n with a single lever and a single pair of dogs with theircomplement of links or connecting.

'rods. In this form of the invention the slide bar 11 has a securingmeans which may consist of a short length chain 10 provided with a hookl adapted to engage a hook or equivalent on a post or any other fixedstructure or support indicated conventionally by the line a; The handlelever 19 has ayoke or'eye 16, in which the slide bar 11 is received, sothat there may be a relative movementbetween the said lever and theslide bar. The yoke 16 thus constitutes the rocking point or fulcrum ofthe lever, the said yoke having a certain looseness for permitting thelever to rock on the bar for the operation of the dogs 17, 18 said dogsbeing in all respects like the corresponding elements in the beltstretcher, the dogs being connected with the lever by means of links orconnecting rods 32, as previously described. Since the dogs and linksare the same in all respects as those first described, no furtherdescription need here be given. The slide bar is provided with aremovable pin -15 corresponding with the pins 45. To secure the lever19* with its complement of dogs to a fence, wire or the like, securingmeans consisting of short lengths of chains 15 are provided, having anyapproved form of hook members 15 The said chains may be secured to thelever by a swivel hook 15 secured by a transverse pin 15 engaging oneside wall of the yoke 16 By the described construction of wire stretchera relative movement is given the lever with its dogs and the bar 11 byan alternate forward and backward rocking movement of the lever, thesame as described in connection with the belt stretcher, so that thefence or the like a will be drawn toward the fixed structure a.

It will be obvious that the stretching device may be very convenientlyand quickly applied to a belt, fence, or other article to be stretched,and the stretching of the article may be very expeditiously effected bythe rapid rocking of the lever.

The described construction affords a practical means for carrying myinvention into effect, and I would state in conclusion that I do notlimit myself strictly to the mechanical details herein illustrated,since manifestly the same can be considerably varied without departingfrom the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

1. A stretching device of the character described, comprising relativelymovable structures, each having securing means for attaching the devicein proper position relatively to the article to be stretched, one ofsaid structures having a slide bar on which the other structure hasguided movement,

the said other structure having a lever, a pair of dogs slidable androckable on the bar, and links connecting the lever and dogs, said linksbeing pivoted to the lever at opposite sides of the fulcrum thereof, andhaving yokes embracing the slide bar, the said links being connectedwith the respective dogs at opposite ends of the latter and at oppositesides of the said bar to rock oppositely in response to the rocking ofthelever, said links'furthermore having shoulders adjacent to the dogsand opposite to that side of the dogs facing the lever to contact withthe dogs in the forward movement of the links, the dogs being free torock away from the shoulders upon reverse movements of the links,adjacent ends of the dogs havingv corresponding fingers adapted toengage and lie against each other when the dogs are brought together,for disposing the yokes of the dogs in parallel relation to each otherand to the bar.

A. stretching device comprising two relatively movable structures havingsecuring means at opposite, ends to secure said structures in properrelation to the article to be stretched, the one structure having aslide bar and the other structure having sliding guided movement on saidbar and comprising a lever, a pair of dogs slidable and rockable on thebar relatively to the bar, and links connecting the lever and dogs,

the links being disposed at opposite sides of the fulcrum of the leverandoppositely connected with the dogs to alternately rock the same intogripping engagement with the bar by reverse movements of the lever.

3. A stretching device of the character described, comprising tworelatively movable structures having securing means at opposite ends tosecure said structures in proper relation to the article to bestretched, the one structure having a pull bar, the other structurehaving guided movement on said bar and comprising a lever rockablerelatively to the bar, a pair of dogs having yokes embracing the bar,and links con necting the lever and dogs, the links being disposed atopposite sides of the fulcrum of the lever and connected with therespective dogs at opposite sides of the yokes to alternately rock thesame into gripping engagement with the bar by reverse movements of thelever.

:i. In a device of the character described, two relatively movablestructures having securing means at opposite ends, one of saidstructures having a bar and the other structure having guided movementon said bar and comprising dogs formed with loops embracing the bar, andlinks connecting the lever with the respective dog at opposite sides ofthe fulcrum of the lever, the said links having shoulders adjacent tothe dogs at the sides of the latter facing the tureihaving a slide bar,the other structure having guided movement on the slide bar andcomprising a pair of dogs formed With yokes slidable on the bar, alever, and links connecting the lever and dogs, the links be ingdisposed at opposite sides of the fulcrum oi the lever and connectedWith the dogs at opposite sides of theyokes to alternately rock the dogsinto gripping engagement 'W1th the bar by reverse movements of thelever, the said dogs having ad acent ends inclined in the direction ofthe lever fiopies of this patent may be obtained'for and adaptedtoengage eachother to dispose the yokes in parallel relation.

6.? In. a stretching deviceof the character described, two relativelymovable structures each comprising aclamp', the one structure having apull bar connected-Withits clamp and the other structure having guidedmovement on said bar, said other structure comprising a clamp throughWhich the bar extends, dogs through Which the bar extends, and linksconnecting the dogs to the lever at opposite sides of the fulcrum of thelever to alternately rock the dogs into gripping engagement With the barby: reverse movements of the lever.

i In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

EDWARD OSCAR FOULK.

Witnesses:

G. R. VVININGER, M. H. OCONNELL.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington,D. 6.. j j

